Closing out the year's this particular entry into the depths of what we used to know as seventies rock 'n roll, complete with alla the decadence and dope that seemed to be part 'n parcel of those particularly creative times. There have been quite a few of these tomes for the times coming out as of late from the Richard Lloyd autobio of a few years back to Adele Bertei's reminiscences of the mid-seventies Cleveland underground scene, and frankly if you didn't get enough perversion 'n opiate throb thrills in any of those other books man, you can get your fill of it here and much more if you so desire!
Never was whatcha'd call a humongous fan and follower of the West Coast thingie the way I'm sure a whole slew of you guys were, though I have been considering (or shall I say, re-considering) checking into the whole Tuxedomoon mystique o'er the past year out of a long-lost curiosity if anything. Although I have yet to plunk down any precious lucre towards any extant Tuxedomoon items I gotta say that this book has become a catalyst for where a good portion of my next paycheck might be going. But then again maybe not...y'see, the hard-boiled sub-guttural existences of not only the likes of author Belfer but the entire more arty 'n decadent 'n thou West Coast scene just might be a li'l too strong for the dainty digestive system that your humble writer owns and operates and besides, why should I be contributing to the drug habits of others with my purchases of their wares especially when I could be contributing to my own as the old joke I told you awhile back went...
Not that I imbibe in anything stronger than Dr. Pepper but all kidding aside...this is a good read detailing yet another portion of the California under-the-underground groupings who popped up during the era of THE GREAT REAWAKENING and the gritty underbelly of it all which might have been hinted about in the pages of those tabloid efforts like SLASH and SEARCH AND DESTROY but were never really delved into. And, as you would expect, it all ends up with author Belfer totally cleaned out 'n up 'n about here in the present which is nice 'n all, but somehow I kinda wish that he was still strung out 'n wallowing about inna gutter which woulda been a nice change of positive uplifting schmooze we always seem to end up with in books like these!
You must have that Subterranean Modern comp with Tuxedomoon, MX 80 and Chrome.
ReplyDeleteNaturally I do, though you could call that only a small taste.
ReplyDeleteBrad here, again. I have the New Tears EP. And I heard the first Tuxedo Moon LP on Ralph Records. They are a step up from Renaldo and the Loaf. But they have not aged well. Just like us.
ReplyDeleteSpeak for yourself, Kimosabe.
ReplyDelete